01 FINDING YOUR WAY WITH GOOGLE MAPS
Let's start off with something that's essential to every traveller and that's getting around. The best map app to use for most tourists is Google Maps. Not only does it have precise instructions for public transport, including which train carriage to board for the fastest transfer times and which platforms you should be waiting on, but the app also has a clearer system of labelling shops and restaurants.
Take my favourite gyoza shop in Ebisu, for example, which shows up perfectly on Google Maps, with the app also offering autotranslation of reviews in different languages, which is super handy. I've also found plenty of great restaurants and izakayas just by doing a quick scan of the available listings in an area from Google Maps.
Apple Maps is another option, and I've found that the directions provided on Apple Maps can be slightly more detailed, particularly when it comes to how to find specific exits in large, confusing Japanese subway stations.
For those of you who might be driving, both apps also indicate clearly which routes include tolls, and offer alternative routes that don't have tolls, so that's a good feature to try and avoid toll fees, which can add up very quickly.
02 CAR RENTALS FOR EXPLORING OUTSIDE
THE CITIES There is a lot more to Japan than its seemingly neverending sprawling cities. A 90-minute drive from Tokyo brings you to scenic Kawaguchiko where you are offered stunning views of Mount Fuji, and the Japanese Alps are one of the best places anywhere in the world to visit for snowy landscapes. And if you do intend to head out of the city, the best way to do it is in a rental car, because public transport network can be sparse.
This story is from the February 2024 edition of HWM Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2024 edition of HWM Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
How To Secure Your Smartphone
WE COVERED THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG password earlier. And this also applies to your smartphone too. While using your birthdate can seem convenient, if you wouldn't use that on your PC, then you shouldn't use it on your phone either.
Ryzen AI Enters The Fray
This review covers the flagship processor in the lineup, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which features a powerful 12-core, 24-thread configuration, 36MB of cache, and Radeon 890M graphics.
IT'S UPGRADE TIME
As the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch approached, rumours about a revolutionary device with a dramatic design change swirled-the Apple Watch X. But as it turns out, we got the Apple Watch Series 10 instead.
Intel Core Ultra 2 Shines
With a week of hands-on experience with the ASUS Zenbook S 14 powered by Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V, it's clear that Intel has created a chip that's a serious contender in the ultraportable space.
Smaller, Lighter, Smarter
When it comes to second-generation products, you expect improvements, and the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 certainly delivers.
AN ATMOSPHERIC ATTEMPT
Taking on a remake of Konami's classic Silent Hill 2 was always going to be a daunting task. Enter Bloober Team, the studio behind other psychological horror titles like The Medium and Blair Witch. While those were solid efforts in their own right, Silent Hill holds a special place in the hearts of horror fans, and any attempt to update it was bound to be scrutinized.
BASIC, BUT COMPETENT
Following the success of the Nothing Phone (2) and Nothing Phone (2a), the company launched its sub-brand, CMF by Nothing, aimed squarely at the budget-conscious.
LENOVO YOGA SLIM 7X
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x stands out in terms of build quality and design. With a thickness of just 12.9mm and weighing a mere 1.28kg, this laptop is incredibly portable.
COMFY, SECURE, AND OPEN
With the Nothing Ear (Open), the company has focused on elevating the open-fit experience with a stylish design, secure fit, and surprisingly solid audio quality.
The Emperor Of Mankind Approves
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 puts you right in the middle of the Imperium's most brutal battles, and it does so with an unapologetic embrace of its own absurdity.
